--- title: How common are period problems like painful periods and PMS in teenage girls? description: Period problems were very common in this group of teenage girls. Painful periods affected more than two thirds of them, and nearly half had premenstrual syndr url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-prevalence-of-menstrual-problems-amongst-adolescent-girls-in-northeastern-2021/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How common are period problems like painful periods and PMS in teenage girls? Survey study, 2021 # How common are period problems like painful periods and PMS in teenage girls? Period problems were very common in this group of teenage girls. Painful periods affected more than two thirds of them, and nearly half had premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Early or limited evidence 897 adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 in northeastern Iran ## What they did Researchers gave a self-reported questionnaire about menstrual patterns and premenstrual symptoms to 897 adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 in two regions of northeastern Iran (Mashhad and Sabzevar). Answers were compared using statistical tests. ## What they found The girls had a mean age of 14.0 years. Average age at first period was 12.57 years in Sabzevar vs 12.68 years in Mashhad, a clear difference. Painful periods (dysmenorrhea) were reported by 617 girls (68.8%), irregular cycles by 168 (18.7%). PMS was reported by 47.6%, clearly linked to painful periods. Backache (60%) and an urge to cry easily (31.8%) were the most common premenstrual symptoms. 21% had delayed first periods, 2.1% had heavy periods (menorrhagia). Painful periods and obesity were clearly more common in girls who started periods early than those who started late. ## What it means for you Period pain, irregular cycles and PMS affect a large share of teenage girls, and many may need medical help for painful periods. The study only looked at girls in one part of Iran and relied on girls reporting their own symptoms, so it cannot show what causes these problems or how they compare elsewhere. 68.8% Had painful periods (dysmenorrhea) 47.6% Had PMS 18.7% Had irregular cycles ## About the study Original title The prevalence of menstrual problems amongst adolescent girls in northeastern Iran Authors Afsane Bahrami, Fatemeh Ariakia, Gordon A. Ferns et al. Journal Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research Year 2021 Study design Survey study What was tested No treatment tested; this was a survey of menstrual symptoms Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.30699/jambs.30.e55702](https://doi.org/10.30699/jambs.30.e55702) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Cohort study, 2025 How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it? Systematic review, 2025 Does alcohol use affect menstrual health in teenage girls? Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Randomised trial, 2024 Does curcumin-piperine combination improve antioxidant activity in women with PMS and period pain? Cohort study, 2024 Is there a link between sleep and menstrual problems in teenage girls? Randomised trial, 2022 Does curcumin with piperine reduce PMS symptoms by lowering inflammation? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗